Sidibe confident Everton are fully kitted out for a tilt at the big time
Frenchman who forgot a sock against Palace backs team to challenge at top, writes Chris Bascombe
Whatever the future holds for Everton’s loanee defender Djibril Sidibe, he is already a lifetime member of one of the most decorated and exclusive clubs in football.
“Les Champions du Monde 2018 Whatsapp group,” Sidibe explains with a beaming smile, his translator pointing enthusiastically at the assembled mobile phones of reporters. “The whole France squad is on there. All 23 of us who won the World Cup.”
Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann may be on speed dial, but no sooner is Sidibe asked who is the most proactive texter among Didier Deschamps’s triumphant side and everyone knows what is coming. “Benjamin Mendy,” the instant reply.
“Benjamin gave me stick for my level of English when I came to England. He was laughing at it.
“He said that when I gave my first TV interview in English he was going to put it out on Twitter.”
Sidibe’s phone was buzzing more than usual after his last Goodison Park appearance, his substitute role against Crystal Palace going viral on social media thanks to the mystery of his missing sock. Summoned by manager Carlo Ancelotti to replace injured Theo Walcott, Sidibe was to be ushered forward by the fourth official when he realised he had to return to the dressing room to get fully kitted.
The 27-year-old sees the funny side now, albeit with a lingering sense of embarrassment.
How do you forget one sock? “Before the game, we were warming up and I had long pants on, tracksuit and a top. I hadn’t noticed at that point I only had one sock on,” he explains.
“When they were going to do the substitution it looked like a straight swap, [Alex] Iwobi for Walcott. But no, Sidi, you are coming on.
“I was thinking of asking Moise Kean for his socks but I thought I would have looked more ridiculous.
“I had a ton of messages afterwards from players taking the mickey. It’s not happened before.
“The manager is an experienced guy. He just had a laugh about it. He took the mickey out of me a bit.
“Even the next morning when I turned up for training, it was, “Have you remembered your socks today?’”
Thankfully, such absent-mindedness is not a trend.
Sidibe is clearly an intelligent, thoughtful speaker.
He fulfilled a long-term ambition to play in England when moving to Everton from Monaco last summer, where he had been part of the outstanding France titlewinning team including Mbappe, Bernado Silva and Fabinho.
That side – who reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2017 – have since scattered across Europe having all spoken of their admiration for the Premier League.
“A magnificent group. All great guys,” says Sidibe.
Naturally, they too have their own Whatsapp community.
So does Mbappe come to England next? “I don’t know,” he laughs, with enough of a twinkle in his eye to suggest he knows more.
“He can. I’ve loved my time here so far. I’ve played Champions League football in the past but when you’re playing the level of games against the type of opponents we’ve had recently plus the likes of Tottenham, you get the intensity in this league. “It’s a bit like playing Champions League football but against the English opponents who play that normally.
“I am convinced we have the quality here to be right up there battling nearer the top of the league, but we know that it’s going to be a challenge between now and the rest of the season. “These sort of games against Chelsea next week, Manchester United on Sunday and Arsenal last week – they’re the opportunity to show whether you really have the potential and what it takes to go the whole way.
“We all know about the manager, his experience and his success. I think that we have a sprinkling of real talent throughout the team, both up front and defensively. We feel we have the tools to do that.”
If Sidibe is tight-lipped about his friend Mbappe, he is more open in hoping Pogba – absent from the Manchester United squad who will visit Goodison today – stays in the Premier League.
“If he does move to pastures new then it would be a genuine loss to the English game,” Sidibe says.
“Paul is the sort of guy you want to see. He’s a real engaging person. People love to see him and love to hear what he’s got to say.
“Of course, mostly they love to see him performing at the highest possible level and at the top of his game.
“As players, we always want to play against the best that other teams have got to offer. We like playing against him and obviously fans like to watch him too.”
Sidibe’s future also needs resolving. Everton have an option for a permanent deal.
“For the moment I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he says. “I have had a chat with Carlo.
“He knows my feelings and he’s happy with the job I’m doing at the moment. There will be time to talk at the end of the season.”
Sidibe clearly feels at home. “I’m not a person who wants to boost my image. I see the relationship with fans as a two-way thing. We need each other,” he says.
“I recognise we are on decent money. I am an employee and earning more money than the average person in the crowd. They make sacrifices with their time and financially to watch us.
“It is a massive thing and it’s important to respect that, both in defeat and more joyful moments. It is a relationship that comes from the heart, not for promotion. I see it as an obligation to foster that relationship.”
‘If Pogba moves it would be a loss to England. People love to see him play’